stripped spark plug threads
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 0
From: Willow Spring N.C.
Have you tried putting the old one back in?
You could run a tap through it, but you'd have shavings in the cylinder. If you try it, put some vaseline on the tap to catch as many of the shavings as possible. Go slow and straight. Work the tap in a little, then work it out. Don't just drive the tap all the way in. Taking time with this will save you! Every time you back the tap out, wipe the tap off and put more vaseline on it. Do this until you can seat the spark plug in place. You don't have to load the tap with excessive vaseline. If it works, try to clear out the vaseline from the threads. Make sure you put anti-seize on the spark plug threads if you don't know.
Hope this helps.
You could run a tap through it, but you'd have shavings in the cylinder. If you try it, put some vaseline on the tap to catch as many of the shavings as possible. Go slow and straight. Work the tap in a little, then work it out. Don't just drive the tap all the way in. Taking time with this will save you! Every time you back the tap out, wipe the tap off and put more vaseline on it. Do this until you can seat the spark plug in place. You don't have to load the tap with excessive vaseline. If it works, try to clear out the vaseline from the threads. Make sure you put anti-seize on the spark plug threads if you don't know.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by Evolution; Aug 11, 2009 at 07:37 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
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Helicoil BUT, depending on which plug, you may have to pull the head anyway. You could try a thread chaser to clean them up again but if you really galled them, a helicoil is really your only option short of a new head.
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From: Fort Wayne IN
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Go to the parts store and pick up a thread chaser/cleaner. Cover with vaseline or a thick grease and see if you can't salvage the threads before taking more drastic measures.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: St. Louis Mo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 7,604
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From: Belleville Il
I just want to emphasize THREAD CHASER/CLEANER!!! MANY try to substitute a regular tap to chase threads,,and especially in aluminum THAT could be a BIG mistake!!! Quite a difference between them!!
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Drifting
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,337
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From: Willow Spring N.C.
I guess I'm one of the many, but as of yet, NO issues. That includes an LS1 spark plug hole a friend messed up on his GTO. But yeah, I'll agree with the chaser/cleaner. I guess I've just been used to a tap for to long.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,868
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From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Yep, youse guys are right on track.....
And, after "cleaning/chasing", be sure to just snug up the new plug, don't over torque!
Jeez....Mariah Carey is pathetic these days....she's on some show singing while I type this...no...badly lip sinking...not singing...very badly.....her new "hit" called "why are you so obsessed with ME".....Girl....you ain't all that...at all....what happened to the great singer we knew? SAD...so sad....her lips weren't even matching the lyrics....sorry, not to take this off topic but she's just obsessed with herself these days....
And, after "cleaning/chasing", be sure to just snug up the new plug, don't over torque!
Jeez....Mariah Carey is pathetic these days....she's on some show singing while I type this...no...badly lip sinking...not singing...very badly.....her new "hit" called "why are you so obsessed with ME".....Girl....you ain't all that...at all....what happened to the great singer we knew? SAD...so sad....her lips weren't even matching the lyrics....sorry, not to take this off topic but she's just obsessed with herself these days....
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Queen Creek Arizona
Have you tried putting the old one back in?
You could run a tap through it, but you'd have shavings in the cylinder. If you try it, put some vaseline on the tap to catch as many of the shavings as possible. Go slow and straight. Work the tap in a little, then work it out. Don't just drive the tap all the way in. Taking time with this will save you! Every time you back the tap out, wipe the tap off and put more vaseline on it. Do this until you can seat the spark plug in place. You don't have to load the tap with excessive vaseline. If it works, try to clear out the vaseline from the threads. Make sure you put anti-seize on the spark plug threads if you don't know.
Hope this helps.
You could run a tap through it, but you'd have shavings in the cylinder. If you try it, put some vaseline on the tap to catch as many of the shavings as possible. Go slow and straight. Work the tap in a little, then work it out. Don't just drive the tap all the way in. Taking time with this will save you! Every time you back the tap out, wipe the tap off and put more vaseline on it. Do this until you can seat the spark plug in place. You don't have to load the tap with excessive vaseline. If it works, try to clear out the vaseline from the threads. Make sure you put anti-seize on the spark plug threads if you don't know.
Hope this helps.
Thanks
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No advice other than that above, but best of luck with the repair.
